VIDEO EXTRA

Bill containing Morganza authorization heads to U.S. Senate vote

The Courier and Daily Comet

Published: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 6:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 6:19 p.m.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., says a major water-projects bill that includes billions of dollars in flood-protection and related projects nationwide is expected to head to a vote Wednesday in the Senate.

Vitter, a co-author of the bill along with Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., recently added language to the bill that authorizes the $13 billion federal Morganza hurricane-protection project. The long-awaited system of locks and levees aims to protect Terrebonne and parts of Lafourche from Gulf of Mexico storm surges.

“WRDA is one of the single most significant pieces of legislation for Louisiana that we'll vote on this year,” Vitter said in a news release today. “We have the opportunity to reform the Corps of Engineers, streamline and expedite flood protection projects, move closer to getting Morganza authorized, and improve our waterways and infrastructure all in one bill. This is a huge benefit to our state.”

In interviews earlier this month, local officials said the biggest obstacle for Morganza's authorization may be the U.S. House. The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in late March. Vitter sat on that committee, but no Louisiana lawmakers sit on the corresponding House committee. Because of the federal budget problems in recent years, lawmakers have banned so-called “earmarks” from bills such as the Water Resources Development Act.